Lock-rod for wagon-brakes



No. 607,687. Patented July [9, I898. 1. H. HOOVER.

LOCK ROD FUR WAGON BRAKES.

(Application filed Feb. 25, 1898.)

.No Model.)

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ilwiTnn STATES) PATENT Orricn.

JAMES H. HOOVER, OF PHOENIX, PENNSYLVANIA.

LOCK-ROD FOR WAGON=BRAKES.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 607,687, dated July19, 1898. Application filed February 25, 1898. Serial No. 671,590. N0model.) 7

T0 ctZZ whom it may concern! Be it known that I, JAMES H. HOOVER, acitizen of the United States,residing at Phoenix, in the county ofArmstrong and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Lock-Rods for Vagon- Brakes, which improvement is fullyset forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanyingdrawings.

My invention relates to improvements in wagon-brakes, but moreespecially to means for quickly taking up the slack or lost motion ofthe parts resulting from the wearing of the joints and particularly thewearing away of the brake-shoes or rubber blocks. The object of myinvention is to provide a simple device or means whereby said lostmotion of the parts may be conveniently and very quickly effectedwithout the use of wrenches or-other tools.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1, drawn to a reduced scale, shows theapplication of my invention to other parts of a wagon-brake. Fig. 2 is aview of the device with the springcloser swung to one side. Fig. 3 is aview of the device indicated by arrow 3 in Fig. 1, the head of the leverbeingdiametricallysectioned along the dotted line 3 3 in Fig. 2. Fig.lis an end view of the device, seen as indicated by arrow -:t in Fig. 1.Fig. 5 is a similar view, the head of the tension-rod or lock-rod andspring-closer being transversely sectioned, as on the dotted line 5 5 inFig. 2. Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, are drawn to a scale about full size.

Referring to the parts, A is an ordinary wagon or vehicle provided withan ordinary brake mechanism B. The tension-rod or lookrod 0, I form witha head D, provided with a series or row of equal parallel short studs orpins 2 to 6, inclusive. These pins or studs are inclined toward theright, as shown, and are covered by a spring-closer E, held to the headD by some simple fastener a. Another stud or pin 1 is employed at theouter or extreme end of the row, it being inclined and spaced like therest and in every way similar to the other pins or studs of the series,except that it is longer and formed with a part 12, straight or withoutslant or inclination, near its end adapted to project through a hole 0in the closer E. The latter is held by the fas tener a in a manner sothat it may be swung to one side, as shown in Fig. 2. When over the rowof pins, the closer is prevented from turning 'or swinging out of placeon account of being engaged and held by the pin 1, as shown in Fig. Whenit is wished to swing the closer to one side to uncover the ends of thestuds, it is first sprung off of the pin 1, as indicated by dotted linesin said Fig. 3. -When in its normal place over the studs to cover thelatter, its inner surface is in contact with the free ends of all thestuds except the stud 1, said ends of the studs being in a plane.

The head D is preferably formed so the studs 1 to 6 stand inclinedacross the axis of the lock-rod O, and each stud is adapted to receiveand hold the upperend or head of the lever F, which latter is connectedat its lower end with the brake-beam d. Now if the lever F be, forinstance, resting upon stud .3 and the brake mechanism need tighteningor taking up the lock-rod C will be drawn backward by the attendant andthe lever shifted to stud 4 or farther to the right, as may be needed.Vhen the brake mechanism becomes slack from use, the hand-lever G willneed to be pushed uncomfortably far forward by the driver to set thebrakes against the wheels. By shifting the lever F'onto a new stud tothe right,as above stated,the parts will be brought into such newpositions that the hand-lever will stand farther back and so be in aposition more convenient to the hand of the driver for operating thetension-rod O. I

In the act of shifting the lever F from one stud to another thespring-closer E is first lifted clear of the h0lding-stud 1 and swung toone side, as shown, which renders all the studs accessible. After thelever F is adj usted as required the spring-closer is returned to itsplace over the-studs, which confines said lever in place. The studsbeing inclined, as shown, tend to draw the head of the lever back towardtheir fixed ends and against the part c of the head D when pulled by thelock-rod. This causes the lever, when the mechanism is strained bythehand-lever G in operating the brake, to engage the stud at its supportedend and where the strongest, and it also prevents the head of the leverfrom pressing the yielding closer E and displacing it.

The adjustable lock-rod in practice lies along near the side of thewagon-body, the headD being close to the body, with the studs pointingobliquelyawaytherefrom,the springcloser being on the outside, as shown.

WVhat I claim as my invention is 1. A lock-rod for wagon-brakes,comprisin g a tension-rod having a head provided with a series ofequally-spaced parallel studs or pins inclined with relation to thelength of the rod and crossing the axis of said tensionrod, incombination with a brake-actuating lever engaged by one of said studs orpins, and means for operating the parts, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, in a brake device for wagons, of a lever foractuating the brakeshoes, and a tension-rod provided at one end with ahead having a series of parallel inclined studs for engaging said lever,apivoted spring-closer for all of said studs, and means for exertingapull upon said tension-rod, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

3. The combination, in brake mechanisms for wagons, of a tension-rod,and means for actuating it, and a lever, for operating the brake-shoes,coacting with said tension-rod, the latter being provided at one endwith a series of inclined studs or rests to engage or hold said lever,and a closer to cover said studs, substantially as and for the purposespecified.

4. In a device of the kind described, atension-rod provided at one endwith a series of equal parallel inclined studs arranged in a row, andanother stud at the end of the row longer than the studs in said series,and a yielding or spring closer to cover the series of equal studs,formed with an opening to receive said long stud, substantially as shownand set forth.

5. A lock-rod for wagon-brakes, consisting of a tension-rod formed witha head having a series of inclined studs or pins, and an additional pinat the end having its extreme end portion straight and at right anglesto the length of the rod, in combination with a lever for actuatingthebrake-shoes, adapted to be engaged by any one of said pins, and meansfor operating said tension-rod, and a closer or cover for said studs orpins, secured to said head and adapted to have a swinging motionthereon, substantially as set forth.

6. In a device of the kind described, a tension-rod having a headprovided with a series of equal parallel inclined studs or pins arrangedin a row, and another stud at the end of the row, longer than the studsin said series, and a spring closer or cover for all of said pins orstuds, having an opening for receiving said long stud, the part of thelatter in said opening being without slant or inclination, substantiallyas described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 19th day ofFebruary, 1898, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES H. HOOVER.

Witnesses:

F. M. FAIR, J. K. LOWE.

